Ren stepped out of the locker room, adjusting the fabric of his examination outfit. He stretched his arms high above his head, letting out a breath of pure awe.
"Damn, this suit fits perfectly," he muttered to himself. "When I first saw it on the rack, it looked like it was barely twenty inches wide. I had no idea how they expected me to squeeze into it, but the material stretches like crazy. It fits my frame perfectly, and even better, I feel light as a feather."
To test his mobility, Ren snapped into a sudden, effortless backflip, landing silently on the polished floor. "The SHIELD never ceases to amaze me," he said with a grin, starting down the long corridor toward the staging area.
As he turned a corner, he spotted Aiko. She was sitting on a wooden bench, but she was hardly alone. A dense crowd of students had swarmed her, their voices overlapping in a chaotic buzz of gossip and prying questions. Aiko looked small in the center of the throng, her shoulders hunched and her expression strained with clear discomfort.
"So, what is 'Baby Ayumu' actually like?" one girl chirped, leaning in close. "Can I call him that? Is he cute at home?"
Aiko stared at her, blinking in confusion. "I... I guess not? I don't really know..."
Before she could finish her thought, a boy shoved his way forward. "What's his favorite food? That'll tell me everything I need to know about his power level!"
Aiko shook her head, her hands twisting in her lap. "I don't know... maybe ramen? He eats it a lot, I guess."
The crowd didn't back off; if anything, the answer emboldened them. Some began scribbling notes while others fired off questions even faster. "How old is he really? Is his age on the news a cover-up?"
Aiko was sweating now, her nods becoming slow and mechanical. "I think... he's thirty-something? I don't know..." She trailed off, hoping the interrogation would end, but the voices only grew louder. She could hear the thumping of her own heart in her ears, her breathing turning shallow and fast as the walls of people closed in.
"HEY!"
Ren's voice boomed through the hallway like a physical force, instantly snapping the crowd's attention toward him. He marched over, his expression stern.
"Can't you guys see she's stressed out?" Ren barked. "The exam is starting any minute, and all you care about is digging for gossip on someone behind their back? It's creepy. Leave her alone and go focus on your own performance. Now, move!"
The crowd hesitated for a second, a few people grumbling, but Ren's glare intensified. "I said NOW!"
The group finally broke apart, murmuring under their breath as they scurried away down the hall. Once they were gone, a heavy silence fell, broken suddenly by the sound of Aiko giggling. Ren looked down at her, totally baffled.
"What?" he asked.
Aiko shook her head, wiping a stray tear of relief from her eye. "Nothing, it's just... I think I would have gone crazy if you hadn't stepped in. I kept such a huge secret from you, but you didn't even care. You didn't hold a grudge or stop talking to me. You just helped me when I needed it most."
Ren gave a small, lopsided smile. "Sure. I mean, we did send a man to the sun together. That's gotta count for something."
Aiko laughed again, but as the laughter died down, Ren noticed her outfit. She was sitting on the bench with a massive, heavy scarf wrapped tightly around her shoulders and chest, almost like a shield.
"What's with the scarf?" Ren asked
Aiko immediately looked down at her lap, her face flushing. "Oh, it's nothing. It's just..." She hesitated, pulling the fabric tighter. "I felt embarrassed showing my curves, honestly. This outfit... it clings to your skin. It reveals a lot. Other girls might be fine with it, but I didn't grow up wearing clothes that were this... tight."
She kept her eyes fixed on the floor. Ren felt his own cheeks start to heat up. He knew what he wanted to say to comfort her, but the words felt heavy in his mouth. He forced them out anyway.
"You shouldn't be embarrassed," Ren said, his voice a bit strained. "I mean... Your curves are good. You look good."
Aiko's head snapped up, her eyes wide and her face turning a deep shade of crimson. Ren immediately realized how that sounded and began waving his hands dismissively, his face now matching hers in brightness.
"No! Wait! That's not—I didn't mean it like that! I mean... they don't look bad! Like, I..." He stammered, completely losing his cool as he struggled to find a less "suggestive" way to finish the sentence.
Aiko let out a soft giggle, her tension finally breaking. "It's okay, Ren. I know you were just trying to cheer me up. It was a bad attempt, but thanks."
Ren let out a heavy sigh of relief. At least she knew his heart was in the right place, even if his mouth wasn't.
"So," Aiko said, tilting her head. "I guess you aren't worried about the written test anymore?"
Ren's entire body went stiff. His eyes widened in pure realization. "Oh my god. I forgot. The stupid written test! Who the hell takes a written test during a battle exam anyways?" He flopped down on the bench beside her, dejected.
"It shouldn't be that bad," Aiko offered gently. "It's probably not going to be complex math problems or physics equations. It'll just be the basics."
"You don't understand," Ren said immediately, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "Aiko... I've never taken a written test before. Ever."
Aiko looked at him with confusion that quickly melted into genuine shock.
"Yeah, I didn't go to school," Ren continued, staring at his boots. "My mom could only afford to send one of us. It was either me or my twin brother, Zen. She wanted us to sit down and talk about who should go, but I didn't need a conversation to know it had to be him. Zen was born smart. He's logical, he explores things, he thinks twice before he moves. I'm the opposite. Plus, I hated the idea of sitting in a room with a bunch of kids while some old dude lectured us."
Aiko felt a pang of sadness for him, but Ren gave a small shrug.
"Zen used to teach me stuffs a bit when he came home. Like how to read. I can do it, but I'm not fluent. I can write, too, but my handwriting is a mess. You see why I'm freaking out? I can't do a written test."
Aiko nodded, her expression softening with understanding. "I get it. But hey, Ren? No more secrets between us, okay? I felt so bad not telling you about my big brother. I want us to be able to share everything. No more secrets. Promise?"
She held out her hand. Ren looked at it, then up at her, a genuine smile returning to his face. He took her hand and shook it firmly. "Sure. You're one of the few people I actually like, so I'm down for that."
Suddenly, the intercom crackled to life, the voice of the L.E.C. booming through the facility. "Attention all candidates. This is the L.E.C. Please report back to the field immediately to receive the rules and begin the examination."
Aiko stood up, giving Ren's hand a final encouraging squeeze. "Don't overthink it. Just go in there, read what you can, and do your best. I bet the test is just to see who has leadership potential anyway. No sweat."
Ren nodded, and together they stepped out of the locker room area and back onto the main field.
In the distance, Ren spotted Zen. His twin was standing alone in the crowd, looking perfectly composed. He wasn't talking or socializing; he was a statue of focus, already mentally preparing for the academic challenge ahead.
Up on the high observation post, the Seven sat in their massive chairs, watching the students like gods looking down on mortals. The L.E.C. stepped forward to the railing.
"The written exam will test your Battle IQ," the L.E.C. announced. "We will evaluate how you process danger, your knowledge of SHIELD operations, and your understanding of tactical mechanics. If you pass with a perfect score, you will be eligible for a Leader's License at the conclusion of this exam."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, but the L.E.C. raised a hand for silence.
"The test will last exactly forty-one minutes. You will be observed by our finest supervisors. This is not a standard school test; it is designed so that cheating is nearly impossible. It is in your best interest to write only what you truly know. Any attempt at cheating will result in immediate failure. There is to be no noise in the hall—that is common sense, and the punishment will be severe. Finally, once you enter the hall, you may not leave until the forty-one minutes have elapsed. You've had your break. Now, it is time."
The atmosphere shifted, turning heavy and professional.
"It may seem like a basic test, because it is," the L.E.C. concluded. "The real fun starts once the papers are turned in. Now, without further delay, follow the supervisors to your designated centers. Good luck."
In the Elite seating area, Raizen stood up, stretching his limbs as the other members of the Seven began to vacate their posts. "You know," Raizen remarked to the group, "I was never actually any good at these tests."
Kuro let out a long, tired sigh, not even looking back at him. "No surprise there. Just shut up and move."
Meanwhile: The Red Cross Party
Inside the sleek, high-rise headquarters of the Red Cross, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of expensive cigars and nervous energy. The doors burst open as Hiroshi (Rank 53) stumbled in, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. He nearly collapsed at the feet of the party leader.
Shinji (Rank 15) looked down at him from a plush leather chair, his eyes cold. He glanced at the other members, who returned his look of confusion, before turning his attention back to the breathless man on the floor.
"What happened?" Shinji asked, his voice low and steady. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I found it," Hiroshi panted, clutching his ribs. "I found the location of the Hychers' hideout."
The room went dead silent. The shock was visible on every face in the room.
"You did what?" Shinji stood up, his brow furrowing. "Do you have any idea how risky that was? If you had been caught, you would have led them straight to us. You placed yourself in pointless danger, Hiroshi."
Hiroshi bowed his head quickly, his voice still ragged. "I apologize, Leader. It wasn't intentional. I spotted two of their men moving cages—monsters, big ones—into a secret underground base disguised as a massive, abandoned transport truck. I didn't let them see me."
Kenji (Rank 26) stood up, a predatory grin spreading across his face. "This is it. This is our shot. We can ambush them now and bring their leader in ourselves."
Shinji shook his head, pacing the length of the rug. "I don't like it. The risks are too high. The professional move is to report the coordinates to the Guild Masters and let the guild handle it."
"No!" Kenji snapped, his frustration boiling over. "We can't just hand this over. Do you know how much that man's bounty is worth? Reporting him like a common citizen gets us a 'thank you' and a pat on the head. We are the Red Cross. We are the second most powerful party in the world, second only to the Elites!"
Kenji stepped closer to Shinji, his voice dropping to an intense whisper. "But look at the gap between us and them. Even at second place, we don't get the fame, the funding, or the respect as much as the elite. People only look at the Elites. The Hychers can't take us—we are all ranked in the top hundred. We crush them, we take the one million Zeths on the leader's head, and we use that money to upgrade our stats and our gear. We close that gap."
Shinji sighed, looking at his hands. "Strength isn't the issue. We have the power, but they have the numbers. There are four of us. There are four hundred of them, all armed to the teeth and desperate. I want to prove we are second-best for a reason, but I won't have your blood on my hands. We can't just rush in with four men."
From the corner of the room, Kaelen (Rank 39) stood up. She smoothed out her uniform, a seductive, sharp smile playing on her lips. "The exam started today," she said playfully.
Kenji blinked, looking at her with annoyance. "Okay? And? How does that help us right now?"
Kaelen walked toward the center of the room, biting her lower lip as her eyes flashed with mischief. "Oh, darling... think. The exam produces the best of the best. We can scout the top performer—the one with the most raw talent—and recruit them into the Red Cross immediately. No rookie is going to turn down an invitation from the second-ranked party in the world."
She leaned against the table, looking at Shinji. "With a fifth member to balance the squad, I can 'persuade' a few more naughty boys from the lower ranks to join our vanguard when the time comes. We let them soak up the bullets, and we take the head."
Shinji leaned back, a slow, intrigued smile spreading across his face. He liked the tactical edge of her plan.
"I do love the sound of recruit" Shinji admitted, looking around at his team. "It's settled. We wait until the exam results are in, pick the best prospect, and then we move."
The members of the Red Cross except Kenji nodded in agreement, the "X" of their party emblem gleaming on the wall behind them.
The doors to the examination hall hissed open, and a wave of relief washed over the crowd. Most of the candidates stumbled out, buzzing with excitement and chatter after surviving the first stage. But for some, the mental tax was visible on their faces. They had no idea that what was coming next would make the written test feel like a walk in the park.
Ren dragged his feet across the pavement, looking like he'd aged a decade in forty-one minutes. He slumped against a jagged rock wall at the edge of the field, staring blankly at the ground, wallowing in a mix of boredom and genuine trauma.
Aiko walked up to him, looking remarkably composed. "Come on, Ren. It couldn't have been that bad."
Ren let out a long, hollow sigh. "Easy for you to say. I spent forty-one minutes just trying to make the letters stop moving. My brain is fried. Just go on without me... let me wallow in peace."
"Oh, there you are. How was the exam, brother?"
The voice was cool and precise. Ren looked up to see Zen approaching, a faint, mocking smirk on his face. Ren's expression immediately shifted into a frown. "You know exactly how it went. I bet you're only here to make my day worse."
Zen's smirk widened. "Oh, it touches my heart to know you understand me so well."
Ren groaned, gesturing lazily between the two of them. "Aiko, this is my asshole brother. Asshole, this is Aiko. You must know who she is by now."
Aiko tensed up as Zen's eyes locked onto her. She nervously extended her hand for a shake. "Hi... I'm Aiko. I've been... well, I've been hanging out with your brother."
Zen didn't move. He stared at her hand as if it were a foreign object. Internally, his mind was racing. What is Ayumu's sister doing with Ren? he wondered. I don't like this. She's acting like this is a social club. Doesn't she realize we are all direct competitors? She's the sister of my soon-to-be rival, and she's treating this like a field trip.
Without a word, Zen reached out and firmly lowered her hand back to her side, his gaze cold and dismissive. "I don't shake hands with people who haven't earned it," Zen said, his voice flat. "Especially not you."
Ren snapped out of his funk and stood up, his face flushing with anger. "Hey! Not cool, Zen."
Before the argument could escalate, the intercom crackled to life. The voice of the L.E.C. boomed across the field, silencing the crowd.
"Attention, candidates. The results of Stage One are being processed. During the test, twenty-eight people were eliminated for rule-breaking—a small number, for which I applaud you, 413 candidates left. But now, the real exam begins. Stage Two will mark the start of the Combat Inspection. Report to the center of the field immediately to receive your instructions."
Zen's eyes sharpened. The mental games were over. He turned on his heel, walking past Aiko as if she weren't even there. He stopped for a brief second to look over his shoulder at Ren.
"You coming, Ren? The second phase is starting. Try to keep up."
Ren looked at Aiko, who was standing there looking stunned and hurt, then back at his brother's retreating figure. "Of course I'm coming," he muttered.
He turned to Aiko, giving her a small, encouraging nod. "You should come, too. Don't mind a word he says. He's... a lot to handle. He'll grow on you eventually, I promise."
Aiko forced a small smile, nodding as she followed Ren toward the center of the field where Zen was already waiting.